Founder of Communion and Liberation movement dies at 82

Rome, Italy, Feb 22, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The founder of the Communion and Liberation movement, Msgr. Luigi Giussani, died early this morning at the age of 82. Msgr. Giussani, known for his great love of the Church, passed away in the celebration of the Chair of San Pedro.

Msgr. Giussani died at his residence in Milan due to severe circulatory problems.

Holy See Press director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, told members of the press today that the funeral will take place Thursday 24 of February, in the Duomo of Milan, and will be celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on behalf of the Holy Father.

Catholics worldwide are lamenting the passing of Msgr. Giussani, including politicians, intellectuals and Church leaders.

On behalf of the President, Julian Carrón sent an official notice to the mourning communities of CL worldwide in which he said, “At 3.10 a.m. on February 22nd, Feast of the Chair of St Peter, the Lord called our dear Fr Giussani.”

Sure in the hope of the Resurrection, through intense pain at this separation, in Christ’s embrace we more than ever acknowledge as father him, who now contemplates the Presence, so dear to him, of Jesus Christ, whom he taught to know and love throughout his whole life as the total consistency of all things and of every relationship.”

Entrusting us all to our Lady, “the living fount of hope,” we ask all the communities to celebrate the Eucharist. Thankful for the life of Fr Giussani, let us ask that his faith, hope and charity become more and more our own.”